EPCA electrifies 100-tonne mining truck
The mining truck in question is the diesel-powered CAT 777, with a total permissible load of 100 tonnes. In the project, which the company calls a ‘Green Machine,’ EPCA faced the challenge of delivering high performance for long operating times within the constraints of the existing truck design.
EPCA worked with battery manufacturer Xerotech. The solution consisted of installing six Xerotech batteries with 290 kWh, the largest single pack, which are connected in parallel and generate a total of 1,741.8 kWh and 671 V. That transforms the CAT 777 into an electric vehicle with “the world’s highest energy density,” as Clayton Franklin, chief engineer and founder of EPCA, explains.
The conversion to battery operation has increased the truck’s power from 746 kW to 824 kW and the torque from 4,700 Nm to 5,200 Nm. According to the company, this increase in power and efficiency from 35 to 95 per cent underlines the Xerotech battery system’s advantages.
EPCA says the ‘Green Machine’ offers numerous advantages for operators, such as less noise and vibration, which increases comfort and safety. The vehicle can be operated for eight hours on a full battery charge. It can be recharged in just 50 minutes with the built-in charging technology, making it ideal for continuous operation in mining, according to EPCA.
Having recently presented its ‘Green Machine’ at two major events in Australia, EPCA plans to produce 50 to 70 battery electric mining trucks per year. Franklin said: “Our mining clients here in Australia are ecstatic that this truck’s being built and manufactured right here in Western Australia.”
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